Four-wheel positive drive.



O. A. GOODR-IGH.

FOUR WHEEL POSITIVE DRIVE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1908.

941,514, Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

4 SHEETS-$113511 1.

- anmmiot '0. A. GOUDBJIGH; FOUR WHEEL POSITIVE DRIVE.

APPLIGATIOH FILED JULY 11, 1908.

Patented N0v.30,1909.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- ws'atwwsea O. A. GOODRIGH.

FOUR WHEEL POSITIVE DRIVE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11, 1908. V I 9 1,514, Y Patented Nov. 30, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. I J g Q -11 I) F F? J l W 1 J 0.,A. GOODRI GH. FOUR WHEEL POSITIVE DRIVE. APPLIUATTONJITLEDIJULYH 908.

, Patented-B10130, 1909.

4 smams-snnm '4.

Z 'HUCHYO UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE.

OSCAR A. GOODRICH, 0F SIOUX CITY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE-EIGHTI-IS TO JOHN N, WARREN AND ONE-EIGHTH TO FOWLER A. SEAMAN, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

FOUR-WHEEL POSITIVE DRIVE.

as buggies, carriages, wagons, drays, etc.,

generally drawn by horses, whereb the same .may be mechanically propelle and power applied to each of the four wheels, yet admitting of the front axle turning and the wheels rotating at different speeds as which:

when turning or passmg over rolling ground or surface. r

The invention is particularly adapted for vehicles of the class aforesaid, nevertheless,v

it may be advantageously embodied 'in automobiles and like mechanically propelled machines so as to apply power to each of the four round or supporting wheels.

For a ll understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings. 1

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departin from the spirit or essential features thereo still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 isia side .view of a vehicle of'the four-wheeled type embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the running gear. Fig. '3 is a transverse section on the line w'm of Fig. 2, looking toward the front, as indicated by the arrows. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the gearing connectmg the power shaft with the hollow axles. F g; 5 is a longitudinal section of a hub of one of the vehicle wheels and the stationary and. rotary axles. Fig. 6 is a detail erspe'ctive view of an end portion of 'a hol ow axle, showing the wheel clutch. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the standard-sup porting the steering wheel. "Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the anti-friction bearing for F g. 9' is a sectional view on Y the hue 9-.-9of F g. 4 ,-looking in the direca hollow axle.-

Specification of Letters ratent.

Application filed July 11, 1908. Serial No. 443,051.

either to be tion of the arrows. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 11 is-a view in elevation of the steering standard.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by a the same reference characters.

" As hereinbefore stated, the invention is adapted for any style or type of vehicle, ,whether designed to be mechanically pro- Bglled or drawn by horse power, the purpose ing to connect each of the supporting ground wheels with the driving power to positively operate the same, while admitting of the vehicle being easily and conveniently steered and -operated without any of the wheels slipping, any differences of speed of the wheels as when turningor passing over rolling surfaces, being compensated for by clutch gearing of any approved type and arranged tothe best possible advantage, ac-

cording to the style of the vehicle and the arrangement of the component parts.

The running gear comprises front and rear axles l and 2, a connectin framework 3, springs for neutralizing shoc and vibration and ground or supporting wheels 4, the latter being loosely mounted upon the arms or spindles of the axles, the latter being stationary in contradistinction to the type of axles mounted to rotate. The axles l and 2 may. be of usual construction and arrangement and support hollow axles 5 which are mounted thereon to rotate. Each hollow axle 5 is provided at its outer end with a wheel clutch 6,-the same'consisting of spoke engaging members 7 v and aic'on'necting rim 8,

the latter serving to brace the members-7 at their outerends. -The oke engaging mem- Paten'ted Nov. 30, 1909.

bers 7 are of .substantia ly U-form in trans-' verse-section so as to embrace three sides of the s okes of the cooperating vehicle wheel, there y causing said wheel and hollow axle I spoke engaging members -7 are open at their outer sides, thereb admitting of the wheel 4' being upon or removed from the axle greased or for any other desired purpose. T e purpose oft-he wheel clutch 6 is tomake positlve enga eme'nt between the wheel andthehollowax e to-- cause both to rotate together, it being essential that the coufstructionof the'wheel clutch be such as slippe to admit of the wheel being readily removed and replaced. Each hollow axle is. provided near its outer end with an inner flange 9, which encircles a rounded portion of the axle 1 near the base of the arm or spindle. A collar 10 is slipped upon the end portion of y the axle 1 and is secured thereto by means of To regulate the speed of the machine, thev gear element 15, loosenpon the power shaft 14 is adapted to be moved backward and forward by means of a lever 16 extended within convenient reach of the operator. The power shaft is provided with one or more gimbal or universal joints to obviate straining and allow for variation in the movements of-the front and rear axles when the vehicle is traveling over uneven roads or surfaces. A clutch gear 17 of any approved type is also interposed in the length of the power shaft 14 to admit of the front. and rear axles moving at different speeds, as

when turning or passing over rolling sur faces. A gear wheel 18 is fast to the end portion of the power shaft and is. geared to the inner ends of the hollowvaxles mounted upon the same stationary axle.

In order that both hollow axles mounted upon the-same stationary axle may be positively driven in the same direction, an idler 19 is provided, the same transmittingmotion from the gear wheel 18 to the gear wheel 21 fast to the inner end of the hollow axle opposite thatwith which the gear wheel 18 is in direct. mesh. This is shown most,

clearly in Fig. 4. The gear wheel 20 at the inner endof the axle, directly geared to the shaft 14, is of the crown type-asis alsotlie gear wheel 21' fast to the inner end of the axle. The style of the glgiring between the power shaft and the hollow axlesis immaterial so long as power is transmitted from the shaft 14 to the axles The several ears are housed or incased, the housing being of such formation as to snugly inclose the operating parts, thereby excludingdust, confining the lubricant and assisting materially in supporting the working parts.

It is to be understood that the 'rearaxle 2 is stationary, whereas the front axle is -1nounted to turn about a vertical axis to admit of steering the vehicle. This necessitates a filth-wheel or king bolt. connection between the fore'truck and the vehicle body to admit of the turning of the front axle.

It is also essential that a universal or gimbal joint 23 be provided near the front end of the power shaft 14 in line with the vertical axis about which the front axle turns. The gear wheel 18 is fast to the end portion of the power shaft 14 forward of the joint 23 so as to maintain a fixed relation with the cooperating gears 19 and 20 and for steering the vehicle, cables, chains, or like connections 2% are attached to the end portions of the front axle and thence extend rearward and pass around guide pulleys 25, thence forward and around a guide pulley 26 at the lower end of a standard 27, thence upward ,through said standard to a drum 28 around which it is passed a number of times and to which itis attached. The drum 28'is mounted upon or forms part of a shaft to which being in 'a plane about parallel with the standard 27 soas to be out of the way. Upon turning the hand-wheel 29, the drum 28 is rotated, therebymoving the flexible connection 24 in the mannerwell understood to effect a turning of the front axle so as to direct the vehicle or machine in the required course. The steering'standard 27 is mounted to swing forward or rearward at "its upper end to suit the convenience of the operator and to admit of ingress to' and egress from the vehicle being conveniently effected. The steering standard is held in the required adjusted position by means of a toothed segment 30 and a latch bolt 31, the latter being carried by the standard and the former attached to a part of the machine, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 11. The hand-wheel 29 maybe held in an adjusted position to admit of both hands being free by means of a brake 32, the same bein mounted upon the steering standard and adapted vto be operated by means of a foot .lever 33. When the machine is traveling on a straight. road, pressure of the foot upon 'the lever brings the brake 32 into ongagement with the wheel 2!) and secures the same, thereby permitting freedom of both hands.

roller bearing 34 is provided near the outer end of each hollow axle and supports the same and is connected to thespring or other support. This is indicated most clearly l in Figs. 3 and S. A clutch gear 85 is sup plied to admit of the wheels of the same axle i turning at dill'erent relative speeds, as when making a curve. The clutch gears 35-1nay be i of any pattern or make commonly employed in mechanically propelled machines and may be arranged in any convenient position to a-dmitot the attainment of the result. i slated. l t is necessary to hold the front axle l stationary, that to prevent rotation 1 thereof about its longitudimil axis, while at l the same time providing for its turning to 1 allow for steering. This is accomplished by a hand wheel 25) is connected, said hand wheel ff iineans of a post 36 which must occupy a cene post 36 extends upward agbetween the gears 20 and 21 at the inner ;,-e 1ids of the hollow axle and is secured at *"ltS upper lower end truss brace 37 end to the axle 1, "Fig. 9. The of the post 36 is connected to the and the brace is'connected at 1 outer ends to the roller bearings 34, Fig. 3.

Having thus ;is' claimed as new is:- 4 1. In vehlcle runnin on of an axle mounte' .t cal axis, the axle,

described the invention, what gear, the combinato'turn about a vermounted upon the arms of wheels axles mounted upon end hollow portions of the main axle and having connection'at their 5 longitudinally a joint in vertica' about which the axle turns, the'hollow axles and the en gpwershaft forward of its ingrlis osed to positively axles'an if 'in'g easily about the vert yet admit of the axis, and a support for the main axle in line with its axis and adapted to hold the main axle from rotatin 2. n a vehicle running gear, the combina t1on of a main axle,

the arms thereof, hollow axles mountedupon,

end portions of the mam axle and haying connection with the said wheels, bearings for bearings,

- the hollow axles,- a brace connecting said a post connected at its upper end wheels mounted upon a to the main axle and connected at its lower end to said brace, a power shaft, and gearing between the power shaft and hollow axles to positively drive them in'the same direction. 3. In vehicle runnin gear the combinat1on of a main axle, w eels mounted upon the arms thereof, hollow axles mounted upon end portions of the main axle, clutches secured to the outer end of the hollow axles, and embodying radially disposed channeled portions adapted to engage the spokes of the Whee s, :1 power shaft, and a driving connection between said power shaft and said hollow axles. 1

t. In" vehicle running gear, a main axle arranged to turn abouta vertical axis, wheels mounted upon the arms of said axle, hollow axles'mounted upon end portions of said main axle and having connection-with said wheels, bearings for the hollow axles intermediate the ends thereof, a brace rod connected to said bearings, a post secured to and depending from the main axle at the axis thereof, a connection between the lower end of said post and the brace rod, a power shaft, and a gearin connection between the power shaft and ho low axles. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR A. GOODRIOH. [1,. s.] Witnesses: n

) W. N. Woooson,

-V. B. HILLYARD. 

